| 1. |
- Ostwald, Madelene, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Can India’s wasteland be used for biomass plantations?
- 2015
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Rapport (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- How much of India’s vast wasteland can be used for growing plants such as eucalyptus and Jatropha? As land demands have increased, the sustainable use of marginal lands has become increasingly important. In India about 47 million hectares, or 15 percent of the total geographical area, is classified as wastelands. Here we assess the climate and land quality requirements of eucalyptus, a commonly used plantation tree, and Jatropha, a much-discussed biodiesel crop. We find that roughly half of the degraded lands are suitable for growing eucalyptus and/or Jatropha.
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| 2. |
- Henders, Sabine, et al.
(författare)
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Do national strategies under the UN biodiversity and climate conventions address agricultural commodity consumption as deforestation driver?
- 2018
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Ingår i: Land Use Policy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0264-8377 .- 1873-5754. ; 70, s. 580-590
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Forest conversion in the tropics is increasingly driven by global demand for agricultural forest-risk commoditiessuch as soy, beef, palm oil and timber. In order to be effective, future forest conservation policies should includemeasures targeting both producers (the supply side) and consumers (the demand side) to address commodity-driven deforestation. Whereas the UN Conventions on Biodiversity (CBD) and Climate Change (UNFCCC) do notmake reference to this driving factor, here we explore whether and how recent national strategies by memberstates to the Conventions acknowledge the role of agricultural commodities in tropical deforestation. A textanalysis of 139 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to climate change mitigation and 132National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) shows that the general trade-offbetween nationaldevelopment aspirations and forest conservation is commonly acknowledged. However, only few strategies linkdeforestation to commodity production and consumption, whereas most documents do not mention this topic.This lack of reference to a key driver of tropical deforestation limits the prospects of safeguarding tropical forestsfor biodiversity and climate change mitigation purposes as part of the two UN Conventions, and might jeopardisetheir overall effectiveness.Thesefindings were complemented by a content analysis of INDCs, NBSAPs and REDD+ documents fromeight case countries affected by commodity-driven deforestation. We investigated whether this driver is ac-knowledged in the national strategies, and which policy measures are suggested to address forest loss fromagricultural commodities. We found that six case countries mention agricultural commodities as deforestationdriver in their REDD+ documents, whereas the biodiversity and climate change strategies were silent on thetopic. Policy measures targeting commodity production were suggested in four REDD+ strategies, ranging fromincentive payments, sustainable agricultural practices and land-use planning to demand-side approaches such ascertification and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles.One conclusion from this exercise is that UN member states seem not to consider climate and biodiversitynational plans the adequate forum to discuss detailed forest conservation approaches. We argue that in order toincrease effectiveness, strategies under the UN Conventions should take commodity-driven deforestation intoaccount, through measures that address both the producer and the consumer side. Do national strategies under the UN biodiversity and climate conventions address agricultural commodity consumption as deforestation driver?. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320845988_Do_national_strategies_under_the_UN_biodiversity_and_climate_conventions_address_agricultural_commodity_consumption_as_deforestation_driver [accessed Apr 24 2018].
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| 3. |
- Karlson, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Assessing the potential of multi-seasonal WorldView-2 imagery for mapping West African agroforestry tree species
- 2016
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Ingår i: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation. - : Elsevier BV. - 1569-8432 .- 0303-2434 .- 1872-826X. ; 50:August, s. 80-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High resolution satellite systems enable efficient and detailed mapping of tree cover, with high potential to support both natural resource monitoring and ecological research. This study investigates the capability of multi-seasonal WorldView-2 imagery to map five dominant tree species at the individual tree crown level in a parkland landscape in central Burkina Faso. The Random Forest algorithm is used for object based tree species classification and for assessing the relative importance of WorldView-2 predictors. The classification accuracies from using wet season, dry season and multi-seasonal datasets are compared to gain insights about the optimal timing for image acquisition. The multi-seasonal dataset produced the most accurate classifications, with an overall accuracy (OA) of 83.4%. For classifications based on single date imagery, the dry season (OA = 78.4%) proved to be more suitable than the wet season (OA = 68.1%). The predictors that contributed most to the classification success were based on the red edge band and visible wavelengths, in particular green and yellow. It was therefore concluded that WorldView- 2, with its unique band configuration, represents a suitable data source for tree species mapping in West African parklands. These results are particularly promising when considering the recently launched WorldView-3, which provides data both at higher spatial and spectral resolution, including shortwave infrared bands.
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| 4. |
- Karlson, Martin, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Mapping Tree Canopy Cover and Aboveground Biomass in Sudano-Sahelian Woodlands Using Landsat 8 and Random Forest
- 2015
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Ingår i: Remote Sensing. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-4292. ; 7:8, s. 10017-10041
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Accurate and timely maps of tree cover attributes are important tools for environmental research and natural resource management. We evaluate the utility of Landsat 8 for mapping tree canopy cover (TCC) and aboveground biomass (AGB) in a woodland landscape in Burkina Faso. Field data and WorldView-2 imagery were used to assemble the reference dataset. Spectral, texture, and phenology predictor variables were extracted from Landsat 8 imagery and used as input to Random Forest (RF) models. RF models based on multi-temporal and single date imagery were compared to determine the influence of phenology predictor variables. The effect of reducing the number of predictor variables on the RF predictions was also investigated. The model error was assessed using 10-fold cross validation. The most accurate models were created using multi-temporal imagery and variable selection, for both TCC (five predictor variables) and AGB (four predictor variables). The coefficient of determination of predicted versus observed values was 0.77 for TCC (RMSE = 8.9%) and 0.57 for AGB (RMSE = 17.6 tons∙ha−1). This mapping approach is based on freely available Landsat 8 data and relatively simple analytical methods, and is therefore applicable in woodland areas where sufficient reference data are available.
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| 5. |
- Karlson, Martin, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Remote sensing of vegetation in the Sudano-Sahelian zone: A literature review from 1975 to 2014
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Arid Environments. - London, UK : Elsevier BV. - 0140-1963 .- 1095-922X. ; 124:January, s. 257-269
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Scarcity of in situ vegetation data inhibits research and natural resource management in the Sudano- Sahelian zone (SSZ). Satellite and aerial remote sensing (RS) constitute key technologies for improving the availability of vegetation data, and consequently the preconditions for scientific analysis and monitoring. The aim of this paper was to investigate how the hands-on application of RS for vegetation analysis has developed in the SSZ by reviewing the scientific literature published between 1975 and 2014. The paper assesses the usages and the users of RS by focusing on four aspects of the material (268 peer-reviewed articles), including publication details (time of publication, scientific discipline of journals and author nationality), geographic information (location of study areas and spatial scale of research), data usage (application of RS systems and procedures for accuracy assessments), and research topic (scientific objective of the research). Three key results were obtained: i) the application of RS to analyze vegetation in the SSZ has increased consistently since 1977 and it seems to become adopted by a growing number of scientific disciplines; ii) the contribution of African authors is low, potentially signalling a need for an increased transfer of knowledge and technology from developed countries; iii) RS has pri- marily been used to analyze changes in vegetation productivity and broad vegetation types, whereas its use for studying interactions between vegetation and environmental factors has been relatively low. This calls for stronger collaborative RS research that enables the mapping of additional vegetation variables of high relevance for the environmental problems facing the SSZ. Remotely sensed vegetation data are needed at spatial scales that suits the requirements of both research and natural resource management in order to further enhance the usefulness of this technology.
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| 6. |
- Köhlin, Gunnar, 1963, et al.
(författare)
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In Search of Double Dividends from Climate Change Interventions Evidence from Forest Conservation and Houshould Energy Transitions
- 2015
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Rapport (refereegranskat)abstract
- Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity, and we are only starting to address it. Climate change scenarios indicate that poor people in developing countries will be particularly negatively affected, e.g. by increased temperature reducing their harvests or flooding due to sea-level rise and extreme weather events. There are also expectations that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be costefficiently reduced in developing countries through for example reduced deforestation or improved stoves. It is therefore not surprising that climate interventions have become an increasingly important part of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), reaching 15 % of the total bilateral ODA, or about 20 billion US dollars, by 2013. According to Sustainable Development Goal 13a, this is expected to grow to at least USD 100 billion by 2020. The same trend is seen with Swedish development assistance.
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| 7. |
- Mattsson, Eskil, 1981, et al.
(författare)
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Food security in Sri Lankan homegardens – what does science tell us?
- 2017
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Agroforestry and other types of multifunctional land-use systems have increasingly been highlighted as win-win-win solutions to meet the challenges of climate change, agricultural intensification, secure ecosystem services as well as support to food security. In this brief the authors seek in the literature for evidence and information on the food security link to homegardens; a traditional agroforestry system common in Sri Lanka, and promoted by the Sri Lankan government .
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| 8. |
- Mattsson, Eskil, 1981, et al.
(författare)
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Heterogeneity and assessment uncertainties in forest characteristics and biomass carbon stocks: Important considerations for climate mitigation policies
- 2016
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Ingår i: Land Use Policy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0264-8377 .- 1873-5754. ; 59, s. 84-94
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The management of forests to store carbon and mitigate climate change has received significant inter- national attention during the last decade. Using in situ data from a 2008–2009 forest inventory field campaign in Sri Lanka, this study describes the structural characteristics and carbon stocks of six natural forest types. This paper has a dual scope: i) to highlight the variation in carbon stored in aboveground biomass within and between forest types and ii) to determine the implications of the allometric equa- tions chosen to calculate biomass carbon stocks. This study concerns work related to climate change interventions, such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and other forest-related, performance-based initiatives that require proper monitoring, reporting, and verification of carbon stocks, sinks and emissions. The results revealed that forests are heterogeneous in terms of tree density and height–diameter relationships, both between and within the six forest types investigated. The mean aboveground carbon stock in the different forest types ranged from 22 to 181 Mg C ha−1 , and there were statistically significant differences in the carbon stocks of the six forest types in 7 of 15 cases. The estimated carbon stock depended heavily on the allometric equation used for the calculations, the variables, and its application to the specific life zone. Due to the diversity of forest structures, these results suggest that caution should be taken when applying default values to estimate forest carbon stocks and emission values in reporting and accounting schemes. The results also indicated the need for allometric equations that are context-specific for different forest types. Therefore, new field investigations and mea- surements are needed to determine these specific allometric equations, as well as the potential variation in forest carbon stocks in tropical natural forests.
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| 9. |
- Mattsson, Eskil, 1981, et al.
(författare)
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Quantification of carbon stock and tree diversity of homegardens in a dry zone area of Moneragala District, Sri Lanka
- 2015
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Ingår i: Agroforestry Systems. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1572-9680 .- 0167-4366. ; 89:3, s. 435-445
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Homegarden agroforestry systems are suggested to hold a large potential for climate change mitigation and adaptation. This is due to their multifunctional role in providing income, food and ecosystem services while decreasing pressure on natural forests and hence saving and storing carbon. In this paper, above-ground biomass carbon and tree species diversity of trees was quantified in homegardens around two villages in the dry south-eastern part of Moneragala district of Sri Lanka. A total of 45 dry zone homegardens were sampled on size, diameter at breast height, tree height and species diversity. Using allometric equations, we find a mean above-ground biomass stock of 13 mega grams of carbon per hectare (Mg C ha−1) with a large range among homegardens (1–56 Mg C ha−1, n = 45) due to a variation of tree diversity and composition between individual homegardens. Mean above-ground carbon stock per unit area was higher in small homegardens (0.2 ha, 26 Mg C ha−1, n = 11) and statistically different compared to medium (0.4–0.8 ha, 9 Mg C ha−1, n = 27) and large (1.0–1.2 ha, 8 Mg C ha−1, n = 7) homegardens. In total, 4,278 trees were sampled and 70 tree species identified and recorded. The Shannon Wiener index were used to evaluate diversity per homegarden and ranged from 0.76 to 3.01 with a mean value of 2.05 ± 0.07 indicating a medium evenly distributed diversity of sampled tree species. The results show a vast heterogeneity in terms of carbon stock and tree diversity within the less studied dry zone homegardens; results that contribute to more knowledge of their expansion potential as well as climate mitigation and adaptation potential. The results are also useful for whether homegardens should be considered to be included as an activity to enhance natural forest cover within Sri Lanka’s newly commenced UN-REDD National Programme.
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| 10. |
- Mattsson, Eskil, 1981, et al.
(författare)
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What is good about Sri Lankan homegardens with regards to food security? A synthesis of the current scientific knowledge of a multifunctional land-use system
- 2018
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Ingår i: Agroforestry Systems. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0167-4366 .- 1572-9680. ; 92:6, s. 1469-1484
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recently, there has been growing interest in agroforestry systems due to their great potential to mitigate threats to household food and nutrition security from soaring food prices but also as carbon sinks. In Sri Lanka, smallholder farms such as homegardens constitute a majority of Sri Lanka's total annual crop and timber production. Despite Sri Lankan homegardens being considered desirable and sustainable land-use systems, their role in food and nutrition security is not yet entirely understood. By synthesising scientific articles and grey literature we sought the link between food security and homegardens by quantifying their products or services and ascertaining whether food security characteristics are assessed as direct or indirect impacts. The results show that 27% of 92 identified articles directly quantified aspects that are relevant to food security. Another 51% of the articles quantified indirect aspects that have relevance for food security, including climate, soil, ecosystem services, structural and floristic diversity and economic aspects. Twenty-two percent of the articles were categorised as being qualitative or conceptual and contained no direct assessments or quantification of food security. The presence of significant merits from homegardens includes providing food security throughout the year at low-cost while sustaining numerous ecosystem services. This benefits particularly the poor farmers. However, many studies are descriptive and only provide location-specific information on single research focuses such as plant species, yield and management. There are few comparisons with crop land, forests or other production systems, and there is even less empirical evidence and quantification of the food security and other benefits. Seven areas where more scientific focus would be beneficial are identified. Homegardens are strong in national policies and to reach a greater level of efficiency within these activities our findings suggest more emphasis on a higher degree of inclusiveness of relevant stakeholders and long-term engagements with context specific guidance.
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